Starting an online marketplace dedicated to selling handmade crafts provides a unique platform for artists and crafters to easily showcase and sell their products online. This creative and sophisticated idea requires hard work and the use of cutting-edge technology to overcome various challenges that can hinder its growth.
Borooa Marketplaes’s success story lies in its ability to tackle these challenges head-on. The founders faced significant obstacles but persevered through determination, creativity, and innovative thinking, all while finding unconventional solutions.
This journey reflects their commitment to turning their vision into reality. Join us as we explore the key challenges that Borooa faced and conquered on its path to growth, recognition, and excellence.
What is Borooa Marketplace?
Borooa Marketplace, established in 2021, is an online store with a mission to empower artisans, artists, and creative crafters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It provides a platform for these talented individuals to sell their handmade products online.
The marketplace boasts a vast and diverse collection of exquisite handmade items that capture attention with their beauty and artistry. Each product is a unique expression of its creator’s feelings and skills.
The name Borooa marketplace, derived from the word for skill or ‘craftsmanship’, embodies the essence of creativity, skill, emotion, and artistry found in the talented individuals blessed by Allah.
What sets Borooa Marketplace apart from the rest are its distinctive features, including:
- A wide range of handmade product categories, such as mugs, crochet items, accessories, incense burners, paintings, and more.
- An appealing store design that ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience, thanks to our technical co-founder partner “Saad Fares Al-Mutairi”.
- Secure and diverse payment methods catering to various needs, including online payments through the Meeza gateway, Apple Pay, cash on delivery, and even installment payments. Through the Tamara gateway, bills can be split into three interest-free payments.
- Door-to-door delivery services available throughout the Kingdom, establishing a direct connection between the creator and the customer.
Certainly, an online marketplace like Borooa has encountered its fair share of challenges while striving for growth and competing vigorously in the Kingdom. Handmade products have unique characteristics that set them apart from other items, as discussed in our meeting with “AbdelHamid Bouhliqa”.
The Key Challenges Faced by Borooa Marketplace and How They Resolved Them
AbdelHamid Bouhliqa explained that the challenges encountered by Borooa marketplace during its journey of growth can be broadly categorized into two main areas:
1. Marketing Challenges
Among the most significant obstacles was understanding the customer base, as handmade crafts belong to a unique product category that caters primarily to a specific demographic.
In our conversation, AbdelHamid highlighted their reliance on various data analysis tools to tackle this challenge. This data-driven approach proved invaluable in comprehending consumer behavior and preferences, leading to service enhancements tailored to meet customer needs. The results were impressive, with increased sales volumes over time.
He also highlighted the vital role played by his co-founder, Saad Fares Al-Mutairi, in building the entire state-of-the-art technology and their distinctive online store, which is no less creative in its design and quality of construction than what artists produce in unique artworks.
When asked about their primary marketing channels, AbdelHamid revealed that Instagram had been their go-to platform from the very beginning.
Instagram’s visual content capabilities, such as images and videos showcasing the creation and preparation of products, played a pivotal role in connecting product creators with customers.
This approach fostered greater engagement, boosted sales activity, and underscored the precision and craftsmanship behind their creations.
Here’s an example showcasing the work of one of Borooa Marketplace’s artists 👇
View this post on Instagram
2. Logistical Challenges
AbdelHamid Bouhliqa continued by shedding light on the logistical obstacles faced by Borooa during its expansion journey. He emphasized that the logistics model for an online marketplace differs significantly from traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
This is particularly true when dealing with diverse pickup and delivery locations spread across the Kingdom due to sellers and consumers operating from various areas.
Shipping, in particular, presented a formidable challenge because many handmade product creators operate from their homes.
This challenge necessitated the provision of door-to-door delivery services to collect products from multiple reception points. Additionally, printing shipping labels for different sellers simultaneously posed a logistical puzzle.
When asked how they addressed this complexity, AbdelHamid revealed, “We faced substantial struggles in finding an innovative solution to navigate our logistical challenges, deliver a unique experience to our customers, and streamline coordination between creators and clients. Eventually, we discovered the OTO platform, which served as a transformative springboard for Borooa.”
Incorporating OTO’s innovative solutions into their operations helped Borooa Marketplace overcome its logistical challenges, ensuring efficient product pickup and delivery. This streamlined process has contributed significantly to the success and growth of the platform.
Borooa’s Journey with OTO
Creating an online marketplace as distinctive and unique as Borooa requires an equally innovative solution that not only aligns with its creative vision but also satisfies its unique requirements.
It’s a journey that was marked by determination, and it led AbdelHamid Bouhliqa to the discovery of OTO. Since embracing OTO, it has played a pivotal role in providing tailored solutions to Borooa Marketplace, facilitating its expansion and growth across the Kingdom.
OTO offers a suite of shipping services perfectly tailored to Borooa’s needs, including a wide array of shipping options that enable the delivery of orders throughout the Kingdom, partnering with over 200 regional and international shipping companies.
What’s more, OTO provides Borooa Marketplace with a user-friendly and intuitive dashboard, empowering them with professional order management and control.
AbdelHamid Bouhliqa, the founder behind Borooa, expressed his satisfaction in successfully overcoming logistical challenges with OTO’s invaluable support. Today, they effortlessly deliver orders right to customers’ doorsteps, print multiple shipping labels for various sellers with a simple click, and significantly reduce their shipping costs.
Summing it up, AbdelHamid Bouhliqa emphasized, “OTO has emerged as a central pillar of strength for us, elevating our competitive edge, aiding in our growth, fostering distinction, and delivering a truly unique shipping experience to our valued customers.”
This success story beautifully reflects the principles of innovation, determination in the face of challenges, and the pursuit of innovative solutions that contribute to lasting success, sustainability, and continued growth.
